Evelyn Winona Taunton Griffin Porter

June 25, 2016

Evelyn Winona Taunton Griffin Porter, 89, of Bainbridge, Ga., passed away Saturday, June 25, 2016, at Seminole Manor Nursing Home in Donalsonville, Ga..

The Celebration of Life Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 10, 2016, at Ivey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Stephen L. Webb officiating. A private interment will be at Roselawn Memory Gardens. The date July 10, 2016, is very special to her family because it would have been the 100^th birthday of her husband, Edwin.

The family will receive friends at the chapel immediately following the service. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Gentiva Hospice, 432 E. Shotwell St., Bainbridge, GA 39819.

Evelyn was born February 11, 1927, to Cyrus Cromwell Taunton and Winona Evelyn Howard Taunton in Bristol, Florida. She married the Love of Her Life, Dr. Edwin Miller Griffin, on March 11, 1947, in Athens, Ga. Following his death on March 9, 1975, she later married Andrew Cuthbert Porter on January 20, 1980, in Bainbridge. After living in Port Saint Joe, Fla., Augusta, Ga., Macon, Ga., and Atlanta, Ga. Evelyn made her permanent home in Bainbridge where she loved growing roses in the beautiful, backyard garden of their Lake Douglas Road home. While she enjoyed playing in The Bridge Club, she and Edwin loved entertaining The Supper Club in their home. Evelyn was an original member of the Gray Ladies at Bainbridge Memorial Hospital, and founded the Decatur County Scholarship Fund. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Evelyn often told her children about their parent’s life while Edwin was a student at the Medical College of Georgia, where she earned a Degree in Medical Wifeology.

Evelyn was known at “MM” Mean Mama to Howard’s friends until her first grandchild, Liz, came along and re-named her “Sweet!” She was a True Southern Lady who was as beautiful as she was feisty!

Evelyn is survived by her children, Howard Taunton Griffin of Bainbridge, Leesa Winona Griffin Stewart and Steve of Griffin, Ga., Jena Griffin Moye of Donalsonville, Ga., and Kimberly Taunton Ballew of Granger, Indiana; brother, Wayne Taunton and Sandra and sis-in-law Shin Taunton all of Port Saint Joe, Florida; grandchildren, Thomas Edwin Griffin and Brandy of Rapid City, South Dakota, Elizabeth Winona Stewart Bundrick and JB of Lesotho, Africa, Cristi Stewart Harper and Lonny of Griffin, Ga., Blair Moye Thompson and Chris of Donalsonville, Layne Moye Edwards and Shawn of Donalsonville, and Elizabeth Ballew Gumpert and James of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She’s also survived by great-grandchildren, Isabela and Edwin Griffin, Eliza Joy Wenona Bundrick, Evelyn, Ethan and Eli Johnson, Adeline and Jake Harper, Landon and Mackenzie Thompson, Sutton and Summer Smith and Griffin Edwards; nieces and nephews, Janice Gaskin Vick, Kathryn Gaskin, Mary Belle Taunton and Eddie, Taft Taunton and Christy, Terri Taunton Reynolds and Johnnie, Sherri Taunton, Pierce L. Taunton, Jr. and Trish.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Edwin Miller Griffin; siblings, Howard Taunton, Murnice Taunton Gaskin and husband, Roy F. “Bud” Gaskin, Pierce L. Taunton, Sr., and nephew, Cam Taunton.

The family would like to say thank you to the staff of Seminole Manor Nursing Home for the excellent, loving care they provided to Sweet for the last nine years. They also want to extend their thanks to Karen Rogerson, RN and Devin Ross, RN of Gentiva Hospice for their heartwarming love, support and hugs they gave to Sweet and the entire family.